Machine for making metal slugs.



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PATENTED 00T. l0, 1905.

M. REID. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1904.

No. 801,267. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

` M. REID.

MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED Amma, 1904.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1904.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.Z3, 1904.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS,

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1904.

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L m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\:\ y WW v No. 801,267. PATENTED OCT. l0, 1905.

M. REID. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR,23,1904.

No. 801,267. PATENTBD OCT; 10, 1905.

MACHINE POR MAKING METAL SLUGS.-

APPLIUATION FILED APR. Z3, 1904.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

MARCELLUS RElD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR -TO AMERICAN BALLCOMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION` OF RHODE ISLAND.

MACHINE Fon MAKING METAL SLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Oct. 10, 19(15.

Application filed April 23, 1904. Serial No. 204,521.

To nl?, zult/)771, it ntfty/ concern:

Be it known that I, MARCELLUS REID, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Slugs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of metal slugs or vball-blanksof approximately spherical form adapted to be converted into practicallyperfect balls by a suitable grinding operation.

The invention consists in certain improvements in mechanism for makingapproximately spherical slugs, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a sectionon line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig.4. Fig. 6 represents a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 representsa section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 represent views similarto Fig. 7, showing different stages of the operation. Fig. 10 representsa view similar to a portion of Fig. 6, certain parts being removed. Fig.11 represents a section on line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents asection on line 12 12 of Fig. 7. Fig. 13 represents a section on line 1313 of Fig. 4. Fig. 14 represents a plan Vview of the knocking-off fingerand slide shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 15 represents a section on line 15 15ofFig. 14. Figs. 16 and 16u represent a modication hereinafter referredto. Fig. 17 represents a top view of the cutters shown in Figs. 1, 2,and other figures removed from the machine. Figs. 18 to 24, inclusive,represent various stages of the operation of making' a slug inaccordance with my invention. Fig. represents a perspective view of oneof the completed slugs.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all theiigures.

In the drawings, 2O 2O represent a pair of rotary cutters, which arepreferably discoidal plates arranged edge to edge in the same plane andeach having a V-shaped cutting edge 21. In the preferred embodiment ofmy invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 17, 18, 19, and 2O the edges ofboth cutters are in the same plane, each extending only partly aroundthe periphery of the plate on which it is formed and each having aminimum projection from the said periphery at its forward end 22, Fig.17, the projection graduall-y increasing to make a portion of thecutting edge eccentric to the axis of the cutter, the eccentricityterminating between the forward end 22 and the rear end 23 of thecutting edge, so that the rear portion of the cutting edge is concentricwith the axis of the cutter. This formation enables the eccentricportions of the cutters to coperate in severing from a rod 24 a slug 25having tapered or approximately hemispherical ends, as indicated byFigs. 19 and 20, the concentric portions ofthe cutters supporting therod and preventing it from dropping between the cutters while thesevered slug is being removed and presented to a pair of pressing-dies.The interruption of the continuity of the cutting edges enables the rodto drop between the cutters after the rear ends of the cutting edgeshave passed out of contact with the rod, all as hereinafter described.One of the cutters 2O is affixed to a shaft 26, which is journaled infixed bearings in the supporting-frame of the machine. The other cutter2O is affixed to a shaft 27, which is journaled in adjustable bearings28 28, which are movable in guides on the frame toward and from theshaft 26, the object of the adjustability of the shaft 27 being tocompensate for wear of the cutting edges of the cutter. To the shaft 26is affixed a bevel-gear 29, meshing with a bevelgear 30, axed to thedriving-shaft 31. The shaft 26 is driven by the described connectionbetween it and the driving-shaft 31 and is provided with a gear 32,which imparts rotation through an intermediate gear 33 to a gear 34,aflixed to the shaft 27, the gear 33 being located at one side of a lineintersecting the axes of the shafts 26 and 27 to permit the' describedadjustments of the shaft 27 without adecting the connection between saidshafts. The bearings 28 28 are secured to a guide 35, Fig. 2, on thesupporting-frame by bolts 36 and nuts 360 thereon. Said bolts and nutspositively secure said bearings in any position to which they may beadjusted. When the nuts 360 are loosened, the bearings 28 may beadjusted toward the bearings of IOO Figs. 2, 3,

the shaft 26 by means of adjusting-screws 37, engaged withinternally-threaded portions of the supporting-frame, the inner ends ofsaid screws bearing against steps 38, Fig. 4, inserted in sockets formedfor their reception in the bearings 28.

Between the bearings for the upper ends of the shafts 26 and 27 is avertical guide 39 for the rod 24, said guide being formed and arrangedto present the rod to the nip of the cutters 20. The guide 39 is tubularand has inner and outer walls, forming an annular chamber surroundingthe portion of the rod that is within the guide. Means are provided forheating said chamber to prevent undue cooling of the rod in its passageto the cutters, it being desirable to keep the portion of the rod thatis being acted on by the cutters at a red heat. The said chamber may beheated by a gas-flame directed into an opening` 40, Figs. 3, 4, and 5,in the lower portion of the guide. To prevent injury to the cutters byheat conducted through the lower portion of the guide, I provide saidlower portion with radiating-anges 41, which radiate sufcient heat toaccomplish the desired result. The guide 39 is adjustable in such mannerthat it can be maintained exactly central over the nip of the cutters,thus compensating for any movement of the adjustable cutter. To this endthe guide is provided with a bracket 42, and 5, litted to slide in aguide 35, aiiixed to the supporting-frame, the bracket 42 being securedto the guide 43 at any position to which it may be adjusted by a bolt44, having a nut 45, Fig. 3.

The rod 24 is fed by gravitation through the guide 39 and is supportedforeach blanksevering' action of the cutters by means of asupporting-stop 46, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, which is movable, said stop beingattached to a slide or carrier 47, which is movable crosswise of thepath of the rod, so that the stop 46 is alternately held in the path ofthe rod and caused to support the same, as shown in Fig. 7, and out ofsaid path, as shown in Fig. 8. The slide 47, supporting the stop 46, isprovided with a trundle-roll 48, entering a camgroove 49 in a disk 50,affixed tothe shaft 26, the major portion of said cam-groove beingconcentric with the axis of the shaft, while a minor portion 49() ofsaid groove is abruptly curved, as shown in Fig. 2. The concentricportion of the cam holds the stop 46 in its projected position, and theportion 49() gives the stop a quick backward movement and then quicklyreturns it to its projected position. The slide 47 has a base orextension 470, (see Figs. 2 and 5,) which is movable in a fixed guide 51on the supporting-frame.

52 and 53 represent blank-pressing dies adjacent to the cutters, eachdie having a hemispherical cavity. The upper die 52 is afxed to theframe of the machine, and the lower die 53 is supported by avertically-movable carrier 54, engaged by a link 540 with an eccentricstud 55, Fig. 3, on an operating-sllaft 56, journaled in bearings on theframe of the machine. To said shaft is aiiixed a gear 57, meshing with agear 58 on the driving-shaft 3l. The rotation of the shaft 56 causes thelower die 53 to approach and recede from the die 52. Mechanism isprovided for carrying each blank from the cutters to a point between thedies when the lower die is depressed and holding the blank until thelower die rises sufciently to engage the ends of the blank with thedie-cavities. Said mechanism comprises a pair of jaws 59 59, aliixed toarms 60 60, which are pivoted at 61 61, Fig. lO, to ears 62 62, Fig. 1l,aiiixed to a slide 63, which is movable between fixed horizontal guides64 64, Fig. 6, on the supporting-frame. The slide 63 is reciprocatedhorizontally by a cam 65, afixed to the gear 57 on the shaft 56, theslide having a stud 650, Fig. 3, engagingsaid cam. The jaws 59 haverecessed edges forming a cavity 66, Fig. l0, formed to grasp the blank,said jaws being held in yielding' engagement with the blank by springs67 67, interposed between the arms 60 and {ianges 68 on the ears 62.When the rod descends between the cutters, the carrying-jaws are out ofthe path of the rod, the lower end of the latter entering a cavity 800,formed by the recessed edges of two steadying-jaws 80 80, Fig. l2,hereinafter described, located just above the stop 46, saidsteadying-jaws holding the end portion of the rod while the same isbeing severed to form a slug. The carrying-jaws 59 move to position tograsp the slug while the latter is held and steadied by the jaws 80. Thecarrying-jaws are provided with heels 590, which during the return orslugengaging movement of the jaws bear on opposite sides of the rodduring the latter part of the severing operation and aid in steadyingthe slug just before it is grasped by the carrying-jaws. Thecarrying-jaws then move forward and carry the blank to a point betweenthe pressing-dies while the lower die is depressed. The carrying-jawshold the blank between the dies until the lower die is raisedsufficiently to cause the die-cavities to engage the ends of the blank,and then the jaws are retracted, their yielding hold on the blankpermitting them to slip off from the latter and leave it between thedies. The lower die continues to ascend after the retraction of thejaws, so that the dies exert pressure on the ends of the blank,compressing the latter endwise, as indicated in Fig. 23, the blank beingthus brought to an approximately spherical form, as shown by Fig. 24.When the lower die again descends, the blank is discharged therefrom byan ejector 69 into a spout70, Figs. 5 and 6, which surrounds the lowerdie and is inclined downwardly from one side thereof, so that the blankis discharged from the machine into a suitable receptacle, from IOO IIO

Vwardly between the jaws.

which it is subsequently removed to be ground and polished. The ejector69 is a pin movable longitudiaally in an orifice in the lower' die andextending below the latter, its lower end bearing on an arm 71, afxed toa vertical rod 72, which is adapted to slide infixed guides on thecarrier 54. A spring 73 normally holds the ejector below the cavity ofthe lower die. rlhe descent of the lower die causes the rod 72 to strikea fixed stop 74, Figs. S and 5, thus arresting the downward movement ofthe rod, its arm, and the ejector before the die reaches the extreme ofits downward movement, the ejector being thus projected into thedie-cavity and caused to eject the blank. The upper die is provided withan ejector 75, which is a rod movable endwise in said die and engaged atits upper end with a cross-bar 76. A spring 77 normally retracts theejector 75 from the upper diecavity. IVhen the lower die-carrier hasnearly reached the downward extreme of its movenient, the cross-bar 76and ejector 75 are depressed through a pair of rods 7 8, connecting thecross-bar with the lower die-carrier, the ejector being thus caused toforce from the upper die-cavity any slug which may have become lodgedtherein.

It will be seen that the cutters in severing a slug from the rod form agradually-deepening \l-shaped peripheral groove in the rod the sides ofwhich ultimately constitute conical ends 240, so that each slug afterthe first one severed from the rod has two tapering ends or heads whichare preferably slightly convex from base to apex. These heads conformapproximately to the die-cavities, as shown by Fig. 22, so that theamount of metal displaced by the dies in pressing the slug to anapproximately spherical form is much less than would be the case if theends or heads of the blank were substantially fiat. In other words, theend portions of the blank are given an approximately hemispherical formby the cutters before the pressing operation, Aand the Work devolvingupon the dies is therefore correspondingly reduced. The displacement ofthe metal by the cutters results in the formation of burs or flanges atthe bases of the conical heads, these anges being of greater diameterthan the intermediate body of the slug, so that the upper flangeoverhangs the jaws 59 and prevents the slug from slipping down- Vhen thepressing-dies close upon the slug, they act first upon the pointed endsof the conical heads and convert said heads into two end zones a?separated by the unformed central portion of the blank, as shown by Fig.23. Thereafter the continued pressure of the dies upon the blank formsthe intermediate Zone y of thc sphere by reducing the distance betweenthe end Zones, and thus decreasing the length and increasing thediameter of the intermediate port'on of the blank. The slug is thusgiven a spherical form by first conforming the conical ends to thedie-cavities, an operation that requires only a minimum expenditure ofpower and displacement of metal, owing to the con'- ical form of thesaid ends, and then conforming the central portion of the slug to theportions of the die-cavities not occupied by the end Zones, thus formingthe central zone. I find that the formation of the central Zone involvesless displacement of metal in the form of a iin at the equator of thecentral Zone than would be the case if the ends of the blank were flat,in which case the end Zones and the central zone would be formedsimultaneously and more metal would be displaced outwardly at theequator of the central Zone in the form of a iin. The amount of metalthat has to be removed by grinding is therefore reduced to the minimum.

If, with the ordinary method of forming slugs the ends of which are Hatinstead of tapered, the pressure exerted by the dies is suflicient tocause the metal to completely fill the die-cavities, anobjectionably-wide finis formed at the equator of the slug. If to avoidthis a lighter pressure is employed, there is a liability that the slugwill not completely fill the die-cavities.v so that flat areas will beleft. The wide fin is usually too bulky to be removed by grinding andhas to be trimmed off. The fiat areas require the removal of aconsiderable portion of the surface of the slug to render the samespherical. rIhese objections are entirely obviated by my invention.

In connection with the slug-feeding jaws 59 I employ a pair of slugholding or steadying jaws 80 80, Fig. 12. which are interposed betweenthe jaws 59 and the stop 46 when the jaws 59 are in their rod-graspingposition. The jaws 8O are pivoted at 8l to the slide 47 and do not movewith the jaws 59 to carry the slug to the pressing-dies. The jaws 80are, however, held by the slide in position to grasp the rod when thelatter is fed downward between the cutters, and they are engaged withthe rod when the feeding-jaws return to position to engage the rodbefore the cutters sever the slug. The steadying-jaws therefore preventthe feeding-jaws from displacing' the rod when they are engaging it.

ICO

Springs 82 exert a relatively light closing pressure on the jaws 80,this pressure being lighter than that exerted on the jaws 59 by thesprings 67. Hence the jaws 59 in moving forward are able to readilyremove the slug from between the jaws 80.

As before stated, the slide 47 has a quick backward-and-forward movementimparted to it at intervals, the rod-stop 46 and the steadying-jaws 8Omoving with the slide. The object of this movement is to enable a fixedarm 83, located between the jaws 80 and above the stop 46, to eject frombetween the jaws and from the stop an imperfectly-formed slug which istoo short to be grasped by the IZO carrying-jaws, such slug being', forexample, the remnant of the rod after the last operative slug has beenformed. Said` remnant when arrested by the stop is below thecarrying-jaws and is not moved by them. Then the slide, with the stopand steadying-jaws, is moved backward, the arm 83 standing stationaryforces this remnant off from the stop and causes it to fall, so that itwill not obstruct the descent of the next rod to the stop. The imperfectslugs thus ejected may escape through a suitable outlet in the machine.The arm may be aflixed to a stationary bracket 84 on the .frame of themachine.

85, Fig. 4, represents a wedge shaped block which is interposed betweenone of the movable bearings 2S of the cutter-shaft 27 and thecorresponding' lixed bearing E280 of the shaft 26, the said bearingshaving oblique faces bearing on the sides of the wedge. When theadjustable bearing i8 is adjusted, the wedge is correspondingly adjustedby a screw-threaded bolt 86, Fig. 3, which is journaled in a fixedbearing in the frame, its thread engaging' a nut 87, engaged with thewedge. The wedge provides for the secure maintenance of any desiredspace between the said iixed and movable bearings. As shown in Fig. 3,the wedge is provided with a vertical passage 88, through which theimperfect slugs fall. 89 represents a slug-displacing finger adapted towipe off from the lower die a slug which may fail to be dislodgedtherefrom into the spout 70. Said finger is pivoted at 90 to a slide 91,movable in aguide 92 on the carrier 5a. Then the slide 63 moves forward,with the feeding-jaws, a projection 630 thereon strikes the slide 91 andYforces the finger 89 across the lower die, so that the finger strikesthe projecting portion of the slug. A spring 94 forces the slide andlinger backwardly when the slide 63 is retracted.

The stop t6 is mounted to move vertically in holder or housing 97,afiixed to the slide 4T, the stop being' supported by a spring' 98, Fig.13. 'lhe stop is thus adapted to yield and conform to the elongation ofthe rod due to the action of the cutters in severing the slug.

ln 16 and 16 I show a modified construction of the cutters, in whicheach cutting edge is a helical rib, so that the cutters actcontinuously, each cutting edge having a gradually-increasing height fora portion of its length.

l claim 1. A machine of the character described comprising a pair ofrotary cutters mounted to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane,said cutters being provided with eccentric cutting portions, and alsowith rod-supporting portions adapted to support a rod after a portionhas been severed therefrom.

Q. A machine of the character described comprising a pairof rotarycutters mounted to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane, saidcutters being provided with tI-shaped eccentric cutting portions andalso with rodsupporting portions adapted to support a rod after aportion has been severed therefrom, said rod-supporting portions beingseparated from the forward ends of said cutting portions by openings,which permit the feeding of a rod between the cutters.

3. The combination with a pair of rotary cutters mounted to rotate in asubstantially horizontal plane, said cutters being provided witheccentric cutting portions, and also with rod-supporting portionsadapted to support a rod after a blank has been severed therefrom, of astop adapted to arrest the rod as it is fed between the cutting portionsbefore the blank is severed.

a. 'lhe combination with a pair of rotary cutters mounted to rotate in asubstantially horizontal plane, said cutters being provided witheccentric cutting portions, and also with rod-suj'iporting portionsadapted to support a rod after a blank has been severed therefrom, saidrod-supporting portion being separated from the forward ends of saidcutting portions, whereby said rod is released, of a stop located belowsaid cutters and adapted to arrest the rod as it passes between saidseparated portions.

5. A machine of the character stated, cornprising slug-severing cutters,a rod-stop below said cutters, steadying-jaws above said stop, andfeeding-jaws movable in a path above the steadying-jaws, and below thecutters.

6. A machine of the character stated, comprising slug-severing cutters,a red-stop below said cutters, steadying-jaws above the stop, means forgiving said stop and jaws short reciprocating movements in unison, alixed rod or stop located between the steadyingjaws to dislodge from thejaws and stop an imperfect slug, and feeding-jaws movable in a pathabove the steadying-jaws, and below the cutters.

7. A machine of the character stated, comprising cutters havingii-shaped cutting edges for severing conical-ended slugs from a rod, anda rod-stop below said cutters having a yieldingmovement to compensatefor the elongation of the rod by the cutters.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a Vertical shaftmounted in fixed bearings, a companion shaft mounted in movablebearings, rod-cutters mounted on said shafts and each provided witheccentric cutting portions and also with rod-supporting portions adaptedto supporta rod after a blank has been severed therefrom, a wedge-blockinterposed between said fixed and movable bearings, and means foradjusting said wedgeblock.

9. A machine of the character describ l IOO lIO

comprising' a vertical shaft mounted in fixed bearings, a companionshaft mounted in movable bearings, rod-cutters mounted on said shaftsand each provided with eccentric cutting portions and also withrod-supporting` portions adapted to support a rod after a blank has beensevered therefrom, a wedgeblocl interposed between said iXed and movablebearings, means for adjusting said wedgeblock, means for moving saidmovable bear- IQ ings relative to said fixed bearings', and anadjustable rod-guide.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

MARCELLUS REID. /Vitnesses:

CHARLES A. WILSON, ALBERT V. MoULToN.

